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CIHEAM Zaragoza joins the celebrations of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists with an international seminar in Madrid
CIHEAM > AGENDAS > CIHEAM Zaragoza joins the celebrations of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists with an international seminar in Madrid
  • The meeting on pastoralism to be held from 9 to 11 of April will bring together over 200 professionals from 32 countries across the 5 continents

  • As part of this event, CIHEAM Zaragoza will organise an international seminar to boost the Network of Sustainable Mediterranean Livestock Systems

The city of Madrid will bring together over 200 professionals from 32 countries across the 5 continents for the event “Celebrating the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026. Madrid International Meeting”. Held from 9 to 11 April, the Meeting lies within the framework of the initiative declared by the United Nations to raise awareness of the importance of pastoralists and rangelands the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.

This event is organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario de la Comunidad de Madrid (IMIDRA), the headquarters in Spain of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM Zaragoza), the Nature and Transhumance Foundation, the Global Alliance for Rangelands and Pastoralists, and the Entretantos Foundation, with the collaboration of the Biodiversity Foundation, Red Eléctrica, the International Land Coalition, Interovic, and the City Council of Aranjuez.

Over three days, professionals attending the Madrid Meeting will have the opportunity to see initiatives first-hand, share experiences and strengthen cooperation between countries to protect pastoralism practices. The gathering will address key questions such as generational renewal, the role of young pastoralists, incorporation of new technologies, transmission of traditional knowledge, the environmental benefits of extensive livestock farming and the cultural value of transhumance.

Antonio López-Francos, administrator of Cooperative Research Projects and Networks at CIHEAM Zaragoza, is a member of the organising committee and will coordinate a session on innovation and technology at the service of contemporary pastoralism.

INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON MEDITERRANEAN LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS

CIHEAM Zaragoza, in partnership with the FAO and the Spanish Cooperation Masar al’an programme, will organise an international seminar on 7 and 8 April on the challenges and opportunities for transition towards the sustainability of Mediterranean livestock systems.

This seminar will lay the foundations for the creation of an international network oriented towards generating and sharing knowledge, driving innovation, and strengthening sustainability in these production systems.

Experts from CIHEAM member countries (Albania, Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, and Türkiye) together with other countries from Northern Africa and the Middle East, will discuss a range of issues (technical, environmental, ecological and social) related to livestock farming and the sustainability of the sector. They will be joined by representatives from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the interprofessional organisation Provacuno and the cooperative Oviaragón to discuss their livestock sustainability strategies. 

Joint declaration from young pastoralists

The event in Madrid will also be the venue for a meeting of young pastoralists from across the world. This group will draw up a joint declaration to be presented at the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to be held in Mongolia in August 2026.

The United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.
Rangelands, which cover around half of the Earth’s land surface, support unique biodiversity and communities of pastoralists whose livelihoods depend on them.
Pastoralists raise animals, contribute to food security, and are stewards of diverse cultural heritage and local and indigenous knowledge, thereby helping to preserve ecosystems worldwide.